Planning commission approves acceptance of donated easement for Annie & Mary Trail segment

The Arcata Planning Commission voted unanimously Aug. 12 to adopt Resolution PC 25-05, finding the donation of a public-access easement over portions of APNs 50420110 and 50420111 is in conformance with the city general plan and the Sequence Negative Declaration adopted Dec. 9, 2022.

City staff told commissioners the Annie & Mary Trail project is a roughly 3.5-mile paved, non‑motorized trail that would follow the former rail corridor from the Bay Trail North northern terminus near the skate park north through city and county limits to the Mad River and the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District’s Park 1 pump station. Staff said construction bids are out, construction funding has been allocated, and the city expects construction to begin this fall with the bulk of work in 2026 and substantial completion anticipated before December 2026.

The city has secured right‑of‑way with the Great Redwood Trail Agency and negotiated an additional easement from the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. Staff explained the water district donated the easement at its June board meeting to allow the trail to route around an existing electrical building on the corridor; the proposed alignment includes a boardwalk segment to skirt the building where needed. Staff also said the easement would document the city’s responsibility for ongoing operations and maintenance of the trail segment.

There was no public comment on the easement. After brief clarifying questions from commissioners about timeline and connectivity, a commissioner moved to adopt the resolution, a second was recorded, and the commission voted yes. The record shows unanimous support from commissioners present; one commissioner was absent.

Why it matters: the easement secures city authority to build and maintain the trail on the specified parcels and advances a multi‑agency effort to extend a continuous trail corridor north of Arcata, including planned connections through Aldergrove Industrial Park, an overpass improvement at Gianntolle Lane/State Route 299, and eventual linkage toward Blue Lake and the Mad River.

Background and partners: staff listed key partners as the Great Redwood Trail Agency, Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District, the Friends of the Annie & Mary Trail, and Caltrans District 1 for segments outside the city. Staff said the Water District holds right‑of‑way for a new electrical building on the same corridor and agreed to donate the easement so the trail can be routed around the facility. The staff presentation noted prior planning and design work, right‑of‑way acquisition, and the city’s receipt of construction funding.

Next steps: the resolution acceptance formalizes the easement donation for that portion of the corridor; staff indicated construction procurement is underway and that the city will begin construction activities this fall, with the majority of physical work in 2026.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased in this article are drawn from the meeting record and city staff reports; the planning commission’s vote is reflected in the official motion and roll call recorded at the meeting.